Drug interactions
Lopinavir + Nicardipine
Severity: Moderate
Lopinavir and Nicardipine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Lopinavir, boosted with ritonavir, strongly inhibits CYP3A4 and can raise nicardipine exposure, causing hypotension, edema and tachycardia. Lopinavir/ritonavir can also prolong PR and QT intervals, adding to cardiac risk.
What this interaction means in plain words
Lopinavir and Nicardipine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Lopinavir belongs to Anti Virals; Nicardipine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Ritonavir-boosted lopinavir inhibits CYP3A4, reducing nicardipine metabolism.
What to do
Start with a low nicardipine dose and titrate by blood pressure and heart rate response, with ECG monitoring if other conduction-affecting drugs are used. Consider amlodipine alternatives with dose limits or other antihypertensive classes.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Lopinavir and Nicardipine, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Nicardipine
Other interactions of Lopinavir
- Alfuzosin + Lopinavir Contraindicated
- Avanafil + Lopinavir Contraindicated
- Cisapride + Lopinavir Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Lopinavir Contraindicated
- Eletriptan + Lopinavir Contraindicated
- Eplerenone + Lopinavir Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Lopinavir with Nicardipine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Lopinavir and Nicardipine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Lopinavir, boosted with ritonavir, strongly inhibits CYP3A4 and can raise nicardipine exposure, causing hypotension, edema and tachycardia. Lopinavir/ritonavir can also prolong PR and QT intervals, adding to cardiac risk.
How serious is the interaction between Lopinavir and Nicardipine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Start with a low nicardipine dose and titrate by blood pressure and heart rate response, with ECG monitoring if other conduction-affecting drugs are used. Consider amlodipine alternatives with dose limits or other antihypertensive classes.
What other medicines interact with Nicardipine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nicardipine with, for example, Amifostine, Amlodipine-olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide, Betrixaban. The full list is on the Nicardipine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
